By B. DRUMMOND AYRES Jr.

Published: September 22, 1992

The country's most famous fictional baby -- Baby Brown of television's "Murphy Brown" -- received a "welcome to the world note" and a stuffed, presumably Republican, elephant yesterday from a surprise admirer: the Vice President of the United States.

"You've helped start an important discussion on ways to strengthen our traditional values," said the handwritten note, sent in care of the television show's star, Candice Bergen, on the day of this year's season premiere. Mr. Quayle was far less conciliatory in May, when he said that Miss Bergen had cheapened "family values" by glamourizing Murphy Brown's single-motherhood.

Last night, surrounded by a group of single parents gathered in a Washington apartment, Mr. Quayle hunkered down and watched the show, for what he said was the first time. Not surprisingly, he got an earful.

In the sharp-edged episode, titled "Murphy's Revenge," Miss Bergen's character hears news reports of Mr. Quayle's May speech and says in exasperation: "I'm glamorizing single motherhood? What planet is he on?"

"Look at me," Miss Bergen's character, referring to her own frazzled appearance, says to a co-worker. "Am I glamorous?"

Then she goes on: "And what was that crack about 'just another life style choice?' I didn't just wake up one morning and say, 'Oh, gee, I can't get in for a facial so I might as well have a baby."'

After that Joe Regalbuto, who plays the character of the co-worker, tries to calm her by saying:. "Murph! It's Dan QUAYLE! Just forget about it!"

The show ends with Miss Bergen saying "there's enough blame to go around" for whatever ails America. But since his attack last season, Mr. Quayle and the Bush-Quayle campaign have drawn at least as much criticism as praise, particularly from single mothers and working women.

"Hollywood still doesn't get it," Mr. Quayle said on the street after watching the show, "because I was never criticizing single mothers."

As the Vice President spoke, several dozen demonstrators shouted, "Four more months!" Lesson in Politics And Responsibility

Jimmy Carter used to make a political point on the campaign trail by carrying his own suit bag, slung over his shoulder man-of-the-people style. Maybe there's a lesson in that for Al Gore.

The other day while campaigning in New Jersey, Mr. Gore momentarily took off his dark, oh-so-serious campaign suit and, donning old jeans, a pullover and scuffed boots, participated in a trash cleanup effort on the beach at Sandy Hook. Then, a bit on the grubby side, still clad in his heavy work clothing, he flew off toward campaign appearances in Wilmington, N.C., and Atlanta.

A few minutes out of Wilmington he got the word that his suit was still in Sandy Hook, somehow left behind by campaign go-fers. But he took the stage in Wilmington anyway, drawing good-natured laughs when he explained his sartorial predicament.

Other go-fers where scouting Wilmington's business district for clothing stores. They found a new suit -- and a tailor to cuff the pants -- and when Mr. Gore alighted from his plane in Atlanta a couple of hours later, he was once more de rigueur. Wilder's Campaign Still Has Bugs in It

There were many reasons the Presidential campaign of Gov. L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia was quickly aborted. But as much as anything, it was a victim of distraction.

Just about every time Mr. Wilder attempted to be Presidential out on the national hustings, some distracting, definitely un-Presidential development would crop up back home. Usually it could be traced to the latest titillating gossip about whether Senator Charles S. Robb, his chief Democratic rival in Virginia, had bugged Mr. Wilder's phone or whether the Governor had ordered an investigation of the Senator's private life.

The other day, the Governor's chief of staff, J. T. Shropshire, was in his office talking to a visitor when suddenly -- kerplunk. There at his feet lay a small box. And sticking out of that little box was a little antenna.

The police, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are investigating. They say the box was a bug that had been stuck under Mr. Shropshire's desk.